Assembly device comprising several transport lines for substrates to be assembled

ABSTRACT

The substrates can be transported on a top transporting section ( 5 ) to component-fitting locations ( 6 ) of the component-fitting apparatus ( 1 ). Conveying sections ( 13 ) for substrates ( 4 ) which are to be routed past the component-fitting locations ( 6 ) are arranged on a number of conveying levels beneath the transporting section ( 5 ). This reduces the structural outlay for the component-fitting apparatuses.

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for fitting electrical components on substrates, it being possible for the substrates, in at least one transporting section of a top level, to be transported to a component-fitting location and away from the same, and installation locations for additional conveying sections for the substrates being provided beneath the transporting section.

[0002] EP 0 413 089 A has disclosed a continuous installation for handling piece goods, in the case of which a plurality of handling sections are arranged, with a large amount of time being required, in segments parallel to one another, the piece goods being divided up thereon.

[0003] A component-fitting apparatus with additional conveying sections for the substrates has been disclosed, for example, by WO99/59389 A. According to the latter, the additional conveying sections are intended to subdivide long assembly lines into a plurality of segments in which a printed circuit board can be fitted out completely in each case. Provision is made here for an additional transporting level to be introduced beneath a component-fitting section, two conveying sections located one beside the other on said transporting level serving for feeding the substrates to the sub-segments and for removing the finished substrates from the sub-segments. Transfer arrangements are arranged upstream and downstream of the sub-segments and can transfer the substrates between the various sections. This means that the transfer arrangement has to be capable of displacement not just in height but also laterally, which is associated with a correspondingly high level of drive-related and guidance-related outlay.

[0004] In particular in the case of wide printed circuit boards, it is necessary to provide, for the two conveying sections, an installation width which results in an increase in the structural width of the component-fitting apparatus and thus in an increase in the standing surface area. There is thus also an increase in the distance between the component-fitting area and the peripherally provided feed arrangements for the electrical components. The displacement paths of a component-fitting head become correspondingly larger, as a result of which the component-fitting capacity decreases.

[0005] The object of the invention is to reduce the amount of space required as well as the apparatus-related outlay.

[0006] This object is achieved by the invention as claimed in claim 1.

[0007] As a result of the two conveying sections being arranged on two levels located vertically directly one above the other, the transfer arrangements only have to be displaced in one direction, as a result of which the design outlay decreases. Since the substrates, in the form of flat printed circuit boards, are usually of a low overall height, the distance between the conveying sections can be kept small, with the result that the displacement paths are considerably shorter than in the case of lateral displacement. The installation width for the conveying sections can be more or less halved, as a result of which the component-fitting apparatus may be of correspondingly compact design.

[0008] The transverse connecting parts make it possible to stabilize the chassis of the component-fitting apparatus in the immediate vicinity of the component-fitting level, with the result that there is no adverse effect to the component-fitting accuracy even in the case of a relatively large free space for the conveying sections.The transverse connecting parts may serve, at the same time, as bearing means for the transporting section or for a component-fitting table of the transporting section.

[0009] Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims:

[0010] The short height intervals between the various sections result in short displacement paths, with the result that the transfer means, as claimed in claim 2, can be displaced quickly between the various levels.

[0011] The development as claimed in claim 3 makes it possible for turned substrates to be transported back in a space-saving manner within the component-fitting apparatus to the start of a component-fitting line and guided through the component-fitting line again in order for the second substrate side to be fitted out. All the conveying sections, including the return section, may be combined in a single compact arrangement and served by the transfer arrangements. Just one additional conveying section is necessary here for the return section, and the travel of the transfer means merely has to be increased to a slight extent.

[0012] The form of the chassis as claimed in claim 4 results in a straightforward structure which can easily be produced by casting and is of high rigidity and dynamic strength.

[0013] The inspection opening as claimed in claim 5 allows access to the conveying sections in the case of disruption.

[0014] The carrier as claimed in claims 6 and 7 allows external assembly of the conveying sections including all the drives, actuating means and control means. This results in a fully prefabricated conveying module which can easily be pushed into the free space available. It is advantageous here for the supporting bearings to be arranged on the two end sides of the component-fitting apparatus, with the result that the carrier can be fastened at easily accessible locations.

[0015] The channel-like cross section of the carrier as claimed in claim 8 results in a dimensionally stable load-bearing structure with low production outlay.

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a longitudinal section through two component-fitting apparatuses which follow directly one after the other and have transfer arrangements, and

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the component-fitting apparatus according to FIG. 1.

[0019] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, transfer arrangements 2 are arranged on both sides of two component-fitting apparatuses 1 following one after the other, said transfer arrangements being provided with vertically displaceable transfer means 3 for substrates 4. On a top component-fitting level, the component-fitting apparatus 1 has a transporting section 5, in the central region of which there is arranged a component-fitting location 6, above which a component-fitting head 7 can be displaced in two coordinate directions. The component-fitting head 7 serves for fetching electrical components 8 from feed arrangements 9 and positioning them on the substrate 4.

[0020] The component-fitting apparatus 1 has a chassis 10, which is designed, beneath the transporting section 5, as a chassis part 11 of rectangular tubular cross section. The chassis part 11, which is open at both ends, forms a free space 12 with installation locations for conveying sections 13, which run vertically beneath the transporting section 5 and parallel to the latter. The transfer means 3 can be displaced vertically between the transporting section 5 and the conveying sections 13 and can introduce the substrates 4 into the various sections and discharge them therefrom.

[0021] There are three conveying sections provided one above the other, of which the uppermost one serves as a feed section for the substrates which have not been fitted, the central one serves as a removal section for the finished substrates 4 and the lowermost one serves as a return section for substrates 4 which are fitted out on one side and can be introduced into the transporting section 5 in a turned state in order for the second substrate side to be fitted out.

[0022] The chassis part 11 has lateral inspection openings 14 through which, in the case of disruption, the inner segments of the conveying sections 13 are accessible. The conveying sections 13 are retained in a carrier 14 which is bent in the form of a U and, together with the preassembled conveying sections 13, can be pushed longitudinally into the free space 12. The carrier 14 is fastened on supporting bearings 15 on both end sides of the chassis 10. The transporting section 5 is provided on the top side of the tubular chassis part 11, with the result that the top tube wall is located between the transporting section 5 and the conveying section 13 located therebeneath. 

1. An apparatus (1) for fitting electrical components (8) on substrates (4), it being possible for the substrates (4), in at least one transporting section (5) of a top level, to be transported to a component-fitting location (6) and away from the same, and installation locations for additional conveying sections (13) for the substrates being provided beneath the transporting section (5), characterized in that the installation locations for the conveying sections (13) are arranged on at least two conveying levels located one above the other, and in that transverse connecting parts of a chassis (10) of the component-fitting apparatus (1) are arranged between the transporting section (5) and the conveying sections (13), and in that at least one longitudinally continuous free space (12) with the conveying sections (13) is formed beneath the transverse connecting parts in the chassis (10).
 2. The component-fitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an assembly line with a plurality of the component-fitting apparatuses (1) for the substrates (4) is subdivided into a plurality of sub-segments in which the substrates (4) are fitted out completely in each case, and in that arranged at least on both sides of each sub-segment are transfer arrangements (2) which have transfer means (3), for the substrates, which can be displaced vertically between the various sections.
 3. The component-fitting apparatus in particular as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the conveying sections can be operated as a return section for substrates which have already been fitted out on one side.
 4. The component-fitting apparatus as claimed in claim one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component-fitting apparatus (1) has a tubular chassis part (11) which extends in the conveying direction and of which the cavity forms the free space (12), in that a top tube wall of the chassis part (11) forms the transverse connecting parts, and in that the transporting section (5) is provided on the top tube wall.
 5. The component-fitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the chassis part (11) is provided with at least one longitudinal-side inspection opening (16).
 6. The component-fitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the chassis part (11) has supporting bearings (15) for a carrier (14) on which the conveying sections (13) can be fastened.
 7. The component-fitting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the carrier (14), with the conveying sections (13) fastened thereon, can be pushed into the free space (12) in the transporting direction.
 9. The component-fitting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the carrier (14) comprises a load-bearing metal sheet which is bent in the form of a U in a channel-like manner. 